Remote-control pilot valve



Filed Jan. 29, 1926 @En I! 15'/ n f y e9 Z w f nz' fr 14 v.

2 Sheets-.Sheet 1 y May 29, v1928. Vv156571,51]

' W. W. CARSON, JR V l REMOTE CONTROL PILOT VALVE Filed Jan.29, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Patented May 29, `1928.

UNITED sTiTEs PA'rls'NTl orales.

WILLIAM w. CARSON, Jn., or KNOxvILLE, TENNESSEE,l AssIeNOn, BY MEsNE AssIeNMENTs, TO THE FULTON sYLPHoN COMPANY, OE KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A

CORPORATION OE DELAWAEE.l

REMOTE-CONTROL PILOT VALVE,

Application filed January 29, 1926. Serial N0. 84,773.

This invention relates to remote control.

pilot-valves. As heretofore constructed, lot-valves of this class have been defective 1n that there is usually a wastage of the actuating medium for said valves, or a flow of the medium at all times except when the main valve is fully opened or fully closed. lThe object of the present invention is to provide an improved pilot-valve of this character which in operation shall avoid a wastage of the mot-ive medium, suchl as water, steam or gas, except at the time when .the main valve is changing position. The invention is particularly vuseful wherever it is desired either to employ large valves to control the flow of liuid, or where the valves are placed at remote distances from the controlling devices. By the present invention these valves may be controlled by variations in pressure or in temperature or by mechanical means such as a float operating on changes of liquid level.

The inventive idea is capable o f receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for lthe purpose of illustrating the invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is t0 be expressly understood that such drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not de signed to define the limits' of the invention, reference being lhad to the appended claims for this purpose.

In said drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the invention, partly in section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the lihe 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig.L2.`

Referring to said drawings, in which like referencenumerals Vmdlcate like parts .throughout the several views, 1 1s any sultabl-e housing to contain the pilot-valve mechanism which willv be hereafter described. Within the housing isa pressure-f.

' -responsive power-storing device here shown in the .form of a flexible or resilient wall 2,

. having a movable closure 3 and a fixed closure Il,V mounted in thehousing 1 in any suitable manner, as

by screw-threading the fixed closure 4 into the housing, asclearly shown in Fig. 3.. The iiexible wall 2 is securely attachedA to the end closures 3 and 4 in any suitable manner, as by brazing or soldering.

A pl'ug 5 closes an opening 6 in the end closure 4, preferably by being screw-threaded therein, and a spring 7 is vmounted withinthe flexible wall 2 under compression between the end closure 3 and the which two parts it reacts. suitable stop, here shown as a tubular part 8 projecting upwardly from the endv closure 3,' is provided, th-e length of this stop beingless than the normal length of theulexible wall 2 and the function of said stop being to limit the collapse of said `iexible wall. Suitable means are provided for securing to the mov? able end wall 3 a fulcrum for a lever to be hereinafter described. As here shown, an internally threaded socket projects downwardly from the end closure3, into which socket is screw-threaded a plugin which is mounted a pin 9 constituting the fulcrum.

The lower part of the housing 1 is closed, fluid-tight, by a bottom plate 10 suitably secured thereto. This plate has two valve openings 11 and 12 formed therein. Valve opening 11 is controlled by a valve 13 provided with an upwardly extending stem 14,v

Ain which stem there is an elongated opening 15. A lever 16 pivoted on the fulcrum 9 has an arm or lug 13 (see Fig. 2) extending laterally therefrom and through the opening 15 in the stem 14.. Projecting downwardly from the valve 13 through theopening 11- is lug 5 against an extension 17 having a nu-t 18 on Ithe lower end thereof supporting a washer 1-9, said nut serving to compress a spring 20 surrounding the extension -17 and reacting to normally hold the valve 13 against the valve seat formed on the upper edge'of opening 11.

yThe valve opening 11 leads into a lower chamber 11',v which has an opening in -itsbottom closed by a screw plug 21, through vwhich opening the parts can be assembled, after which the plug is insertedclosin'g the Openingy fluid-tight. vThevalve opening 12 is controlled by a valve 22, Opening downwardly within a chamber 12 similar to the chamber 11,-', Said, valve is provided with a stem 23, projecting upwardly through the'A Valve seat or opening 12 and immediately l heretofore described.

Thelever 16, as herctoforefdescribed, isl fulcrumedat one end to the lower end wall 3 through the fulcrum 9, and at the other end is pivoted, through fulcrum pin 27, to a clevis 28 secured to a stem 29. This stem 29 may have any suitable motion imparted thereto by an automatic variant` force', as by a thermostat, a float, or otherwise, tending to rotate' the lever 16 around the fulcrum pivot 9. As here shown, said stem has a reciprocating motion through a stuiling box 27 vof any suitable construction, and a suitable stop 30 is preferably employed to i limit the movement of the stem.

Provided in the wall of the chamber 12 is a suitable opening 31 to admit amotive fluid flowing in the direction indicated by the arrow 32. The chamber 11 is provided with an'outletv opening y33, and lthe housing 1 with an outlet opening 34, from which la conduit 35 leads to the main valve mechanism placed. in any suitable or convenient location.. This main valve mechanism and its operation will be describedrlater.

Let :it be assumed that the conduit 36,' leading to the inlet opening 31 in the chamber 12, is connected lto any suitable sourceV of fluid under substantial pressure and that I- the opening 34 in the housing is plugged or closed so that there is no discharge from the casing 1 through the conduit 35. The' operation'of the device would then be as follows: Y Y i .If a downward longitudinal movement is imparted-to' the stem 29 so as to rotate the link 16 about the fulcrum pivot 9, the .arm

22 onl the link16 engages the stem 23 on the valve 22 compressing the spring 25, thus moving the valve 22 away from its seat and allowing fluid under pressure to pass from the chamber 12 into the casing 1. This results in an increase in pressure in the casing 1, and,.at a certain predetermined pressure, depending upon the adjustment of the spring 7 and the resilience of lthe spring 7, or both, said wall will collapse 1nl cproportion to the increase in pressure, the en closure 3 thereof moving .upward and carrying with it the pin 9. lOn this movevment of pin 9 the lever 16 turns about the fulcurm 27 until the lever arm 22 is with- I drawn t1 om the stemv23 of the valve 22,. per- A mined thel flexible wall 2, or'

mitting the spring 25 to close said valve, and, if the collapsing movement contlnues, the arm 13 ofthe lever 16 contacts with the upper end of the opening 15 in the stem 14 ber 11', the -opening 33 and the conduit 38.

This discharge of pressure from the housing 1 will permit an expansion of the flexible or resilient W-all 2, under the influence of the spring 7 or its own resilience, when the valve 13 will again engage'its'seat 11.

It will thus be perceived that, if the valves 13 and 22 and their connected parts are properly proportioned, they' will both be closed in the normal position o't' the flexible wall 2 and the stem 29. The Afirst part of the collapsing movement of the flexible wall causes the lever 16 to move awa-y from the stem 23, thus tending to allow the valve 22 movement of. the lexible wall raisesl the valve 13 from its seat and'allows the .dis-,

charge of the motive fluid until a predeterpressure is obtained in the housing 1.

Now,if, through the action of any suitable variant force, an additionallongitudinal movement is impartedto the stem 29,

Athe movement o f the various parts occurs' through the sequence described above, except-that it is necessary `to compress spring 47 still further before the valve 13 can be moved from its seat. This` increased compression of the spring 7 requires an increase in pressure in the housing 1, which increase within sa1d housing may downward longitudlnal movement of thc be secured by.

stem 29, Athe extent of such increase in pressure in. the housing being dependent upon `the' stiffness or adjustment of the spring 7.

It will thus .be seen that there is provided a device in which a predetermined pressure maybe maintained in the housing 1 after a longitudinal movement is imparted to the stem 29, and that, thereafter, vfor anylxed position of the stem 29, this pressure in the housing will remain constant; upon additional inward longitudinal the stem-29, however, the pressure within the housing can be increased to a considerable extent, depending upon the character 29 is moved vlongitudinally in an outward direction, however, it lWill be seen that theV lever 16, rotating about the pivot fulcrum 9, wlll engage the top of the elongated slot the housing 1 and allowing the spring 7 -`to movement of extend the flexible Wall 2 and close the dis; 'Y

charge valve 13, thus terminating the discharge from the housing runt-il further lenand adjustment of the spring 7. If the stem ,120,

gitudinal movement is imparted to the stem il 29. It' will of course be understood that the interior of the flexible member 2 can eitherbe hermetically 'sealed or vented to the atmosphere.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is illustrated, in Fig. v1, a suitable valve mechanism whose operationis to be controlled by the' pilotvalve l1eretofore`dcscribed. The showing of a valve is merelyy for the purpose of illustrating the invention, since it will be readily understood that the invention may be employed to operate valves, damper's, or other mechanism whose movements it is desired to control. Y

' Referring to Fig. 1, 39 is a suitable valve' `casing having/a poppet valve 40 connected to a st em 41, passing through a suitablestu'lling box 42, secured to the cap and yoke member-43. The u per end of the valve stem 41 has a suitable piston 44 secured thereto, which piston works in a cylinder 45. One end of the' cylinder is closed byA a cap 46 secured means, and a sprin thereto by screw-threads or othersuitable 0' 47 :is compressed between l said cap 46 and the piston 44, so that the spring tends to raise it the poppet the piston 44 and with valve 40 from its seat, in the absence of pressure in the cylinder 45 above the'piston .44 sufficient to overcome the ten-v sion of the'spring 47. l. The cap 46 issecured l to yoke member 43 in any suitable manner,

v as by a screw-threaded boss 48 and a locknut 49, thereby retaining the cylinder 45 in a fixed relation to the valve. The end'of the cylinder, `oppositethe cap 46 is closed by a cap 50 screwthreaded or otherwise secured thereon, and

v the conduit opens into the cylinder 45 above the piston 44 through the cap 50 and the, elbow 51. If it be assmed that the'tension of the spring 47 is such that the valve 40 1s opened when there is an absence` of pressure in the cylinder above the piston 44, it will be seen. that upon admitting a predetermined fluid pressure into this space in the cylinder there will be caused a downward movement of the 'piston- 44, thus moving the valve 40 toward its seat and tending to restrict the passage' controlled thereby and hence the flow ofi mepressure into the housing and through the pipe35 into the -u'p'per end of cylinder 45,

moves downwardly, the

thus forcing piston 44 downwardly, and when the stem 29 is raised the valve 22 will be closed and valve 13 will be opened so that the presy Asure will be vented from thehousing and cylinder through the conduit 38 and piston 44 will be raised b'y spring 47. It will further be seen that by reason of the fact that the two lever arms 13 and 22 are oppositely disposed on the lever 16, the movement of each of the valves 13 and y22 corresponds to the movement of a point at a fixed distance from vthe two fulcrum pins 9 and 27. In the construction shown the lever 16 acts on the valves at a point intermediate the pivots 9 and 27,

but this is not essential nor is the ratio of the fixed distances a necessary factor.

Any suitable automatic means may be einployed for operating the plunger stem 29. lFor the purpose of illustrating the invention,

su'ch means are shown in the form of a thermostat similar to that shown in Fulton Patent No. 1,102,035, but it is to be understoodl that such, showing is for illustration-only and that any suitable thermostatic, pressure,

or mechanically operating means may be employed for this purpose.

.In Fig. 1 a frame' 55'is' held in position.` Y

on the housing 1 by alock-nut 56. If the thermostatic bulb 57 is installed in heat-interchanging relation with a fluid, such as water .in a storage tank or `heated'air in a drying room, changes in the'temperature in the bulbl 57 will cause avlongitudinal movement of vthe` stem 29, thus veffecting a movement .of the valve 40 and the consequentv'control of the fluid passing said valve in accordance with the temperatureof the water in the`storag`e.

example, the bulb 57 -is installed in a Water .storage tank, which watei` is heated Aby a steam Collin said. tank, and the passage 'of steam to said coil is controlled by the valve 40, it willbe seen that the variations in tem- -perature in the storage tank, acting through the stem 29, control the movements of the valve 40, andhence passage of theheating medium to the tank. p v

In the foregoing description,- for the purpose' of illustration; the action of the sprlngs' iand :47 has been'referredto in somedetail,

but .it is to: be distinctly understood that 4in l eac-hv of. these cases a spring is shown and described'-merely as typical ofA a device which produces the desired result`s.- Any 'other mechanical equivalent or equivalents `of such springs may. be employed, provided only :that -the force exerted against the clo'- sure 3 of the flexible wall 2 is variablev or that the force exerted against the piston 44 is variable with different positions of the wall head 3 and the piston. It will. be readilynnderstood that a constant force" would not produce the results desired.

Vhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, I

vtank or the airA in thedrying room.y If, for c said ports,

the combination of a chamber, a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaustiport forsaid chamber, independent valves controlling a pressure-responsive device subjected to the pressure in said chamber,l a movable element subjected to the action of a variant, and a lever having a fulcrum on said pressure-responsive device and a fulcrum on said movable element and in operative relation with said valves.

2. In a deviccof the character described, the combination of a pressure chamber, a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaust port for said chamber, independent valves controlling said ports, a pressure-responsive power-storing device in said chamber, a movable element subjected to the action of a variant, and means alternately controlled by said movable element and power-storing device and in operative relation with said valves. A

3. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a pressure chamber, a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaust port for said chamber, independent valves controlling said ports, a spring-pressed diaphragm subjected to the pressure in said chamber, a variant-actuated elementin said chamber, and a lever having a fulcrum on said diaphragm and on said variant-actuated element and in operative relation with said valves.

`4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pressure chamber, a pressure irlet port and a pressure exhaust port for said chamber, independent valves controlling said ports, a pressure-responsive device subjected to the pressure' in said chamber, a thermostatically controlled element movable in said chamber, and a lever having a fulcrum on said element and on said pressure-responsive device and in operative relation Withsaid valves between said fulcrums. l

5. In a device of the combination of the character described, a pressure chamber, a pressure inlet port and a pressure-exhaust port for said chamber, independent valves controlling said ports,- a pressure-responsive device subjected to the pressure in said chamber, a movable element subjected to the action of 1a variant, and a lever havinga `fulcrum on said pressure-responsive device and a fulcrum onsjaid movable element, said lever operatively' engaging said valves at the samedistance from either of said fulcr'ums.

6. 'In a device of the character described,

the combination with a pressure chamber having a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaust port, oppositely disposed independent -valves controlling said ports, a pressureresponsive device subjected to the pressure in said chamber, a 'movable element subjected to the action ling said of a' variant, and a lever.

having a fulcrum on said pressure-responsivel device and a fulcrum on said movable element, and oppositely projecting arms on said lever, one of said arms being in operative relation with one of said' valves and the other arm in operative relation with .the other valve. 4

7. 'In a device of the character described, the combination of a pressure chamber having a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaust port, independent valves said ports, a flexible vessel having a movable end Wall subjected to the pressure in said chamber, a stem having one' end projecting into said chamber and the other end subjected to the action of a variant, and a lever having a fulcrum on said Wall and a fulcrum onvsaid stem Within said chamber and in operative relation with said Valves.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a chamber, a pressure inlet port and a pressure exhaust port for said chamber, a pressure responsive device in said chamber, a movable element subjected to the action of a variant, oppositely acting valves respectively controlling said inlet port and said exhaust port, and means ful-` controlling crumed on said pressure responsive device i and on said element and operatlvelyrelated to said valves to control the admission to and exhaust of pressure from said chamber.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pressure chamber, an inlet port and an exhaust port for said chamber, a pressure responsive device Subjected tothe pressure in said chamber, a

movable elementl subjected to the action of a variant, a member fulcrumed on said pres-l sure responsive device and on said element, and independent valves respectively controlling said ports and disposed on opposite sides of said member in -operative relation thereto.

10. In a device of the character described,.

-sure responsive device and on said element,

and independent valves respectively controlports and disposed on opposite pressure in said chamber, a j

sides of said member, said valves being operatively related to said member at equal distances fromthe fulcrums thereof.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination inlet port and an exhaust port for said chamber, a pressure responsive device in said chamber, a movable element in said of a pressure chamber, an

chamber subjected to the action of a variant, Y

independent valves respectively controlling said ports, and means operatively related to said valves and.

operatively connected. te Seid` pressure 4responsive device and saidmovable element 'for operatmg said valves only upon a change 1n positron ofsald pressure respon- -sive device or said'movable element.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a .pressure chamber, an inlet port 'and an exhaust port for said chamber, a pressure responsive device in said chamber, a movable element in said chamber subjected to the action of a variant, independent valves respectively controlling said ports, and a member operatively relatedto said valves and 'fulcrumedf on said pressure responsive device and said movable element, said member cooperating with said valves to maintain a predetermined pressure in said chamber dependent upon the position o f said element. L v

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WILLIAM W; CARSON, JR. 

